Newry City SDLP Councillor Doire Finn has called on the voting age to be reduced to 16 in an effort to give young people a voice in politics. The young Newry City Councillor was speaking on the issue during the first full Council meeting of the new Council term.
Speaking to Clanrye News and Sport Cllr Finn added:
“This week I attended my first meeting and item 10 on the agenda was a piece of correspondence from Minister of State Steve Baker in response to a motion brought by my party colleague Terry Andrews calling for the voting age to be reduced. I am disappointed with the response from the Minister as I believe young people should be actively involved in politics.”
Cllr Finn added:
“Currently 16 year olds can vote in local elections to the Welsh Assembly in Wales, Scottish Parliament elections and Scottish local elections. I raised the need for us to raise the voting abilities of young people here and in places like Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man and hope that the Minister will give the proposal further consideration.”
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CLANRYE NEWS 